Power struggle forces S. Africa's leader to quit

Published
8:00 pm EDT, Sunday, September 21, 2008

By CLARE NULLIS

Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- South African President Thabo Mbeki told the nation Sunday that he had resigned, having lost a power struggle to a rival tainted by allegations of corruption but poised now to lead the country.

In a somber but dignified speech focusing on the successes and shortcomings of his nine-year presidency, Mbeki said he had submitted a letter to the speaker of Parliament "to tender my resignation from the high position of President of the Republic of South Africa."

He said he would stand down at a date to be determined by Parliament, which will convene in the coming days to select an interim president to serve until next year's elections.

National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete, who is also chairwoman of the African National Congress, is widely tipped to become the interim head of state, paving the way for Mbeki's nemesis, Jacob Zuma, to take over after the elections.

The ANC has a huge majority and is expected to romp to victory in the polls despite its upheavals.

"I am convinced that the incoming administration will better the work done during the past 14-and-half years so that poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, illiteracy, challenges of health, crime and corruption will cease to define the lives of many of our people," Mbeki said.

Mbeki, 66, lost the final battle in the long struggle against ANC President Zuma, his former deputy, on Saturday. Mbeki was pressured to quit after a judge threw out a corruption case against Zuma earlier this month on a legal technicality and implied that Mbeki's administration had put political pressure on prosecutors.

In his television address, Mbeki said "categorically" that he had never interfered in the work of prosecutors. He said that included "the painful matter" of the Zuma case. Zuma has been under a cloud for the past eight years from allegations relating to a big arms deal.

A senior ANC official, Matthews Phosa, said the party had asked the Cabinet to remain on the job.

"We want the Cabinet to stay," Phosa said. "We want stability and we want them to stay ... but we cannot enforce things upon them," he said on South African television.